Habitat for Hope» Families and Friends http://www.habitatforhope.org serving families affected by traumatic childhood illness Sun, 15 Jan 2012 18:07:11 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 100 miles of Hope – Tim needs your help! http://www.habitatforhope.org/2011/10/100-miles-of-hope-tim-needs-your-help/ http://www.habitatforhope.org/2011/10/100-miles-of-hope-tim-needs-your-help/#comments Thu, 27 Oct 2011 23:10:05 +0000 Mylissa http://www.habitatforhope.org/?p=801 Once again, pain fanatic and dear friend Tim Hutchinson has signed up for a race to raise money for Habitat for Hope. You’ve GOT to read his latest post, and although we don’t advocate dressing like this to run 100 miles, we think you should witness his dedication to HFH:

20 Questions with Timbeaux

]]> http://www.habitatforhope.org/2011/10/100-miles-of-hope-tim-needs-your-help/feed/ 0 Welcome Ali Armstrong! http://www.habitatforhope.org/2011/09/welcome-ali-armstrong/ http://www.habitatforhope.org/2011/09/welcome-ali-armstrong/#comments Tue, 13 Sep 2011 14:13:00 +0000 Mylissa http://www.habitatforhope.org/?p=764 The Armstrong family recently moved in to our 3 bedroom apartment. They came to Memphis very suddenly due to their son’s diagnosis – as do many of our families. This time though, there was an additional concern – mom Misty was 37 weeks pregnant with her daughter, Ali – and the pregnancy was high risk.

Avery playing with some new toys!

We thought it would be a blessing to shower the Armstrongs with clothes, diapers and formula to ease the transition here in Memphis! We were so lucky to collect many items – including gift cards, beautiful baby outfits, a wonderful bouncy seat, diaper genie and much more! We thank two of our partner churches, New Hope Christian Church and Fellowship Memphis for their help and support! Special friends like the Ottingers and the Morris family donated items that

Ali

really blessed the Armstrongs. They thank you from the bottom of their hearts!

]]> http://www.habitatforhope.org/2011/09/welcome-ali-armstrong/feed/ 0 We have Interns! http://www.habitatforhope.org/2011/09/we-have-interns/ http://www.habitatforhope.org/2011/09/we-have-interns/#comments Fri, 02 Sep 2011 16:32:11 +0000 Tucker http://www.habitatforhope.org/?p=760 God has truly blessed Habitat for Hope with two awesome interns. Say hello to Peggy Alex and Laura Gallegos.
Peggy and Laura are in Memphis for 9 months doing a program called Downline Institute. Downline Institute is a 9-month intensive training program committed to equipping clergy and lay leaders in Biblical disciple-making.

Peggy is a recent college graduate from the Orlando, FL area and Laura is with us from El Salvador. Peggy and Laura were at HFH a few nights ago and have such servants’ hearts. We can’t wait to see how God uses them alongside Habitat for Hope!

]]> http://www.habitatforhope.org/2011/09/we-have-interns/feed/ 2 Grace Evan Youth commit to HFH http://www.habitatforhope.org/2011/08/grace-evan-youth-commit-to-hfh/ http://www.habitatforhope.org/2011/08/grace-evan-youth-commit-to-hfh/#comments Thu, 04 Aug 2011 21:40:47 +0000 Mylissa http://www.habitatforhope.org/?p=732 Already this summer, students from the Jr and Sr high youth groups at Grace Evangelical Church have had two work days at the property of Habitat for Hope. Just last week, the 7th grade girls along with Erin Pearce , Jr High Director and Sharon Morgan, MIT team leader for HFH,  participated in yet another missions project. This will be the third time this year that the girls have assembled parent food boxes. A fire alarm even went off during the project and the girls assembled the boxes in the dark  which made a fun memory, but a poor quality photo!

Habitat for Hope provides support for families whose children are critically ill. These food boxes are given to parents at local hospitals who may either not have money to buy food at the cafeteria, or are unable to leave their child in the room by themselves to go get food. Inside the boxes the girls put bottled water, assorted snack foods, a HFH brochure and a handwritten card with verses and encouraging words to the family.  Stories are shared about the HFH families and the girls are encouraged to pray for the families receiving the boxes. Youth leader Erin Pearce says, “I love my girls coming together to serve. As we are in there packing food boxes and writing cards I hear comments like, “ I can’t believe this sweet family is going through such a hard time. Their faith is amazing. I want to understand more the blessings that God has given me and share them with others.”
It is so great for our girls to be in touch with what is going on in this world. Sometimes they can only see in front of them, and they don’t realize how bad people are hurting. Partnering with Habitat for Hope challenges them to look outside themselves to love and serve others.” Erin states that they love this project and hope to get together at least 2 more times this year.  What a wonderful way to “Love your neighbor”.  Thanks Grace Evan!

]]> http://www.habitatforhope.org/2011/08/grace-evan-youth-commit-to-hfh/feed/ 0 Thoughts from the Clark Family http://www.habitatforhope.org/2011/07/thoughts-from-the-clark-family/ http://www.habitatforhope.org/2011/07/thoughts-from-the-clark-family/#comments Mon, 25 Jul 2011 16:27:44 +0000 Mylissa http://www.habitatforhope.org/?p=720 Dear Friends,

I cannot express what a blessing Habitat for Hope has been to myself and my family.  A few weeks ago, the doctors informed us that our daughter Cassidy had relapsed and that there was nothing more that could be done for her in pursuit of a cure.  With broken hearts, we informed our friends and family that we didn’t have much time with our sweet girl.  Many, once again, came before our Holy God begging Him to intervene and also praying that His grace would envelop us and His love would be ever clear to us.  Words fail when I try to express the gratitude I feel for those prayers. We truly feel the comfort and peace that are a direct result of those prayers.  We continue to ask God for a miracle, but do not pretend to control His will.  We know that He is sovereign and will not allow anything to happen that does not fit into the puzzle of our lives.  He knows the finished product and we rest in that assurance. We have spent the last twenty months or so as patients in Memphis, TN where Cassidy has received the last two of her three bone marrow transplants.  It was while we were in Memphis that God directed our path to cross with Mark Horrocks.  This was the beginning of our relationship with Habitat for Hope.  Since then, we have spent seven months in one of the downtown apartments and grown close with the Team.  I had told Becky that Cassidy really wanted to go to the beach and we were trying to work that out.  A few days passed and she called to say she was making arrangements for an expense paid trip for us provided by the donations of Habitat for Hope and its supporters.  We had an awesome time!  We were overwhelmed by all that was done to make a wonderful getaway for our family. We’re so grateful for Tucker and Becky Davis for taking time to spend with us. We love and appreciate you.  Thank you for giving your lives and to sharing God’s love with those who are enduring trials.

Chad, Jennifer,
McKenzie, Savannah and Cassidy

]]> http://www.habitatforhope.org/2011/07/thoughts-from-the-clark-family/feed/ 0 My Dad http://www.habitatforhope.org/2011/06/my-dad/ http://www.habitatforhope.org/2011/06/my-dad/#comments Wed, 22 Jun 2011 13:24:33 +0000 Becky http://www.habitatforhope.org/?p=709 On Father’s Day, my pastor Ricky Jenkins at Fellowship Downtown was preaching on The Parable of the Sower in Matthew 13:1-9 & 13:18-23.  I remember him saying that the shallow are destroyed by problems and the double-minded are destroyed by prosperity.  He did a simple illustration of holding up a piece of paper with the word GOSPEL written on one and the word GOOD THINGS written on the other.  He held each in a separate hand.  As I watched him grip both equally I realized the obvious problem in my life and seemingly our culture.

And at that instant I thought of my dad!  He has been the best example I have ever met on this earth of only gripping the gospel.  He cannot be convinced that THINGS, or even GOOD THINGS will bring life and hope.  When someone asks me to describe my dad, I always say that He loves Jesus and He loves people.  There is so much more to my dad that is great, but those two attributes are so huge that they overshadow everything else!

Dad, Me, and My Friend Dottie Running to Fight Leukemia and Lymphoma

]]> http://www.habitatforhope.org/2011/06/my-dad/feed/ 0 The Govender Family http://www.habitatforhope.org/2011/05/the-govender-family/ http://www.habitatforhope.org/2011/05/the-govender-family/#comments Wed, 01 Jun 2011 03:29:09 +0000 Becky http://www.habitatforhope.org/?p=697

Tucker and I visited one of my favorite places in America this May….SEA WORLD!  We went to celebrate my birthday, and our six anniversary, and meet up with the Govender Family who were on their Make a Wish trip.  The Govenders had been in Memphis for nearly a year when we met them in March – they stayed in an HFH apartment for the last few months of their time in Memphis. We met them at Sea World and spent the day together looking at Gods amazing water creatures.  I’m a bit fascinated with it all and so is Yeshaai!  He loves whales and it was so much fun to watch him enjoy watching the whales.  We will miss the Govender family but we are so thankful that they are taking a healthy Yeshaai back home to South Africa!

]]> http://www.habitatforhope.org/2011/05/the-govender-family/feed/ 0 100 Miles for Hope http://www.habitatforhope.org/2011/05/100-miles-for-hope/ http://www.habitatforhope.org/2011/05/100-miles-for-hope/#comments Mon, 30 May 2011 02:53:24 +0000 Mylissa http://www.habitatforhope.org/?p=694 Our good friend Tim Hutchinson is running the Rocky Raccoon 100 mile Race to raise money for Habitat for Hope! In 2008, Tim competed in the Florida Ironman Triathlon in Panama City and raised $65,000 – coming in 2nd in the Janus Charity Challenge. But way more importantly, we’ve become great friends, and there is nothing like a true friend that understands our calling and our work, and can take part in the work as his own. Read Tim’s post about HFH here.

Your Choice

 

]]> http://www.habitatforhope.org/2011/05/100-miles-for-hope/feed/ 0 The Joy of the Lord is My Strength http://www.habitatforhope.org/2011/04/the-joy-of-the-lord-is-my-strength/ http://www.habitatforhope.org/2011/04/the-joy-of-the-lord-is-my-strength/#comments Fri, 15 Apr 2011 17:39:27 +0000 Becky http://www.habitatforhope.org/?p=613 A song I learned as a kid will occasionally start playing in my mind.  I’m usually pretty thankful until I realize that it’s stuck and I can’t get it out.  Much like when I was teaching kindergarten.  There was a song for EVERYTHING – how to line up, how to spell, the days of the week, vowel sounds, cleaning up.  These songs were hard to shake, I could be anywhere and suddenly realize I was singing the “purple song” in my head!

What I’m thankful for, is a church, family, and school that taught me songs for Scripture.  They stick.  Years later they will pop into my head and I will remember God’s promises through song.  One that has recently been cycling through is the simple song that repeats, “The joy of the Lord is my strength.  He gives me living water and I thirst no more.”

I met the Clark Family in August of 2010.  I can say this song describes them.  Their family has endured tragedy after tragedy, but they still have joy.  They have lost a mother and have watched a sister endure three bone marrow transplants.  I believe their joy comes from the fact that they have tasted Living Water – Jesus.

]]> http://www.habitatforhope.org/2011/04/the-joy-of-the-lord-is-my-strength/feed/ 0 Congratulations, friends! http://www.habitatforhope.org/2011/04/congratulations-friends/ http://www.habitatforhope.org/2011/04/congratulations-friends/#comments Tue, 12 Apr 2011 14:30:27 +0000 Mylissa http://www.habitatforhope.org/?p=676 Habitat for Hope has some wonderful news!  The staff is expecting two new babies in late October and early November!  Ginny Gross is due October 29th and Becky Davis is due November 10th.  We have been needing more staff. :)  Please be in prayer for both of these ladies and their babies.  Pray for healthy pregnancies and deliveries.

You might have already been praying for Tucker and Becky’s adoption process.  God has decided to bring them a child another way at the time!  They will put the adoption on hold for a year or two or until God shows them the right time to start the adoption process again.

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